Emperor Franz Joseph Did Not Want to Be More Catholic Than Pope Letters Reveal

September 15, 1924

Vienna (Sep. 15)

Interesting private letters of Franz Joseph, the late Emperor of the former Austria-Hungarian Empire, throwing light upon the relation of Franz Joseph to the Jews, were published too day.

One of the published letters relates the following incident. During a table conversation at the court of Franz.

Joseph, the Emperor praised the generosity of a certain Jewish family in Vienna who had donated a large sum of money for the purpose of building a hospital. Prince Waldemar of Denmark asked with astonishment, “Your Majesty, I hope you are not a philosemite?” The old Emperor in reply smilingly stated,” Indeed I am. The Pope, too, protected the Jews, and I do not wish to be more papal than the pope.